France travel: Britons must follow strict rule for France holidays until next year

France’s health passport requires tourists and residents to prove their vaccination status or provide a negative test to enter tourist attractions and hospitality venues. The French Government has just extended the health pass requirement until July 2022.

People must have the certificate to enter indoor areas including restaurants, bars, shopping centres and major tourist attractions.

Members of the French Parliament have now agreed to extend the passport until July 2022 if the Covid situation does not improve.

The bill will have to go through some more procedures to be finalised but many officials are keen for it to become law.

The French Government said: “The health pass is implemented as part of the national reopening plan.

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“It makes it possible to limit the risks of epidemic spread, to minimize the probability of contamination in risky situations and therefore the pressure on the healthcare system while allowing certain activities or places to be kept open in addition to the health protocols specific to each individual sector.”

Children over the age of 12 must have a health passport to enter venues and will have to take tests if not vaccinated.

Covid tests must be taken every 48 hours for an unvaccinated person to qualify for a health passport.

Although frequent testing is one way to qualify for a health passport, the French Government is encouraging people to be vaccinated.

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Macron recently suggested that everyone getting fully vaccinated is the most cost effective and convenient way to get the passport.

France has announced it will no longer offer free PCR of lateral flow tests to people using them for non-medical reasons.

That means that only those who have been in contact with an infected person or those showing symptoms can have a free test.

The Health Passport has caused controversy among some French people who do not want to be vaccinated.

The ‘sworn statement’ is a self declaration that the tourist is not suffering from Covid and had not been in contact with an infected person in the last fortnight.

France does accept the UK vaccination certificate as proof of being double jabbed at the border.

British tourists can present the QR code from the relevant NHS portal to demonstrate their vaccine status to enter venues in France, according to the UK Government.

Britons are advised to check the latest travel restrictions for France on the UK Government website before leaving on holiday.

source: express.co.uk